{"id":3824,"date":"2023-12-22T13:57:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T18:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/?p=3824"},"modified":"2023-12-22T13:57:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T18:57:59","slug":"new-study-suggests-fasting-could-reduce-signs-of-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2023\/12\/new-study-suggests-fasting-could-reduce-signs-of-alzheimers-disease.html","title":{"rendered":"New Study Suggests Fasting Could Reduce Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s been proven that what people eat can help prevent or slow Alzheimer\u2019s disease, but what about when they eat? A recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism <\/em>suggests that participating in intermittent fasting could lead to a reduced risk of cognitive deterioration.<\/p>\n

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine adjusted the feeding schedule of certain groups of mice so that they only ate within six-hour windows each day. Researchers noted that this would be equivalent to 14 hours of fasting for humans. Compared to a control group of mice that ate on demand, the fasting mice showed improvements in memory, were less hyperactive in the evenings and had fewer sleep disruptions.<\/p>\n

They were also shown to have less buildup of amyloid proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. The goal of restricted eating is to restore the circadian rhythm, the researchers said, which could help counteract the numerous disruptions that Alzheimer\u2019s patients face when it comes to sleep and schedule-related confusion. Senior study author Paula Desplats, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said, in a statement to Fox News Digital, \u201cOur study emphasizes the power of feeding timing in aligning the circadian clock and its impact on the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continued, \u201cWe were hopeful to see some improvements in pathology but did not expect such profound effects in reducing plaques and inflammation and improving memory. The effects of time-restricted feeding on lower amyloid pathology were also measurable in blood using markers found in the clinic, which was another important finding. The researchers hope that these findings will lead to human trials.\u00a0The goal is to obtain funding to start a pilot study of patients next year.<\/p>\n